The Orange and Blue made their third acquisition of the summer transfer window Thursday morning when they announced that Joseph-Claude “Joe” Gyau arrived from MSV Duisburg in the 3.Liga, the German third division. The deal was completed Wednesday evening up against the FIFA transfer deadline.
Here’s why this move makes sense for both Gyau and his new club alike.
For Gyau
The former USMNT winger has spent the last decade playing in Germany. While his most-recent club, Duisburg, was just relegated to the 3.Liga, he’s regularly played in higher tiers of German football and even appeared for Borussia Dortmund.
In moving to Cincinnati, it’s a fresh start in his home country and an opportunity to excel in MLS as he enters the prime of his career. He’ll also compete for minutes instantly on the field, which is an enticing reason to cross the planet to keep playing.
For the club
Before the summer window, FC Cincinnati General Manager Gerard Nijkamp said the team needed depth at left back, forward and on the wings.
Last week, the team announced Andrew Gutman on loan from Celtic FC, which fills a vacancy at left back. This signing adds strong depth on the wings, which also is something Nijkamp wanted during the window.
In adding Gyau, the club have only gotten better. They now have four natural options on the wings (Gyau, Roland Lamah, Emmanuel Ledesma and Kekuta Manneh). Allan Cruz can also play as a winger, but with more outside options, it might make sense to have the Costa Rica international play centrally as a center midfielder – his natural position.
Before the transfer period opened, Yoann Damet had virtually no depth to choose his team during his term as interim head coach. On multiple occasions, he couldn’t even field a full 18. Now, there’s depth, which should create new headaches for Head Coach Ron Jans.
That’s a much better problem to have.
